Real Estate Trends and Stats

Brian Buffini has released his newly updated Real Estate Report. I'll give you some of the facts that I find relevant and interesting.

• For Sale by Owner's are down in 2010, less than 1 out of 10 sales.


• 95% of first time home buyers chose a fixed-rate mortgage.


• Distressed properties make up 36% of the market.


• Top factors influencing a buyers decision: quality of the neighborhood, convenience to work, and affordability of the home.


• Percent of buyers who were first-time buyers increased to 50% in 2010.


• Typical home sold for 96% of the final list price.


• Most popular motivation for selling - current house too small.


• Most cost effective improvement to prep the house for sale: Cleaning and de-cluttering, lightening and brightening, then staging.

If you'd like more information about the local real estate market, contact the Eisenlauer Team. We'd love to be of assistance.

Bill 770-2455 Bob 979-2883

Housing Rising

National Geographic found a way to help housing rise. It's not the price of the house rising, but the house itself. In a new show "How Hard Can it Be?" they tested the theory that balloons could be attached to a house enabling it to "fly". The structure was 16' x 16' x 18'. 300 helium ballons were attached, each one being 8' tall. The entire structure was 10 stories tall, launched with 2 balloon pilots and stayed afloat for an hour.

The Eisenlauer Team can't move your house with balloons, but we can help you move. The activity in the local market has increased with the arrival of spring weather and we're optimistic about the future.

Bob 979-2883 Bill 770-2455

What does Freeze on Foreclosures Mean?

There is a new freeze on the foreclosure process for many residential lenders. In light of the possible (probable) fraud in the backlog of foreclosures, many banking institutions are putting a freeze on their proceedings. How could this affect the market? Some home owners could sigh a small breath of relief. It could buy them a bit more time to save themselves financially or it could leave them in an uncomfortable limbo. It will defiantly put a lot of vacant houses in a precarious position where the former owners are no longer taking care of it and the banks are not able to take control of the upkeep.

The Bloomburg article states that foreclosure properties accounted for 24% of all the home transactions in the second quarter of 2010. The Des Moines Business Record quotes Bill Knapp as saying "he has seen little evidence that the foreclosure freeze is affecting sales" in Des Moines.

On the bright side, the interest rates are still at an all-time low, and there is large inventory of homes for sale. Pick up the phone with any questions about the local real estate market.

Bill 770-2455 Bob 979-2883

First October Weekend - What to do?

What to do?

1.Family Faith & Freedom Fest, tonite from 5:30-9:00 at the Orange Planet in Pleasant Hill. Richie Lee playing at 5:30, Sarah Darling at 6:30 and more.

2. Go to a high school football game. The weather is perfect.

3. Downtown Farmers Market, this is the last month. The perfect time of year to get the fresh ingredients for ratatouille.

4. Varsity Theatre - showing a sing-a-long version of Grease. You know you love to sing those songs, why not join in the fun?

5. Sunday Bazaar in the East Village. You'll certainly find something you can't live without. If not, you'll enjoy the music and the ambience.

6. Call the Eisenlauer Team to buy or sell real estate.

Bill @ 770-2455 Bob @ 979-2883

Art in Des Moines this weekend

Other cities wish for a festival this grand. Don't whine about "nothing to do" in Des Moines. One of the country's finest art festivals is going on NOW. Today, Friday, enjoy from 4:00-10:00 PM. Saturday, 6/26, 10:00AM to 10:00 PM, Sunday 6/27 - 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. If you don't have a budget to buy art - don't stay home. There are interactive art activities, live entertainment, performing arts, street theatre, food vendors (not free). In conjunction with the art fair there is a film festival competition. It is called Interobang Film Festival - that's where you go when you are ready to rest in air conditioning. The festival is centered around the Sculpture Park at Gateway West, downtown Des Moines.
If this mostly outdoor venue does not appeal to you, there is another art fair at the Iowa State Fairgrounds - ArtFest Midwest. There has been a controversy about the artists accepted at the downtown art fair - too many were from out of town, out of state, and more local artists should be featured. Hence a second art fair. This one too, is juried. You will see many more Iowa artists at this one. Again, many free and interactive activities. The big plus - Climate Controlled Building! With the forecast for temps in the 90's - this is a giant plus. Also lots of parking close to the expo building.
The Eisenlauer Team can't do pottery, paint, sculpture or sketch. What they can do - assist their clients in buying and selling real estate - they do as skilled artists. So looking for the artistic Realtor - call Bob @ 979-2883 or Bill @ 770-2455.

The Year of the Icicle

Have you ever seen so many glorious icicles? It just makes me want to break one off to lick (like you did as a kid when you believed they were pure) and just knock the rest of them down. Why so many icicles? They are caused from heat escaping thru the roof and/or insufficient venting out of the attic. If you have had an unusual amount of icicles this year, you might want to have a contrator check your attic insulation and your roof vents this spring. What to do with them? According to the experts quoted in this Mason City news article, if there are no leaks, leave them alone. As tempting as it can be to knock them all off, this could put you in danger as well your gutters. And if you think icicles can't be dangerous... read this article from West Virginia. Man killed by falling icicle. And he was wearing a hard hat! So Beware. Enjoy the icicles while they're sparkling and let them melt away.

For all your real estate needs or for the name of a reliable contractor give us a call. Bill Eisenlauer at 770-2455 or Bob Eisenlauer 979-2883.

Snow Sights Around Des Moines

We live in Iowa, so we expect snow. But none of us expected the amount we've received this winter! But certainly you've found some ways to enjoy it. Here's some pictures I took as I traveled about the past week or two.

The good news - winter won't last.

Not as good news - the low mortgage interest rates and the tax credit won't last either. You have a limited time to take advantage of the expanded and extended tax credits for home purchases. The interest rates...who knows how long that will last. Don't wait too long.

The Eisenlauer Team is ready to help you with your real estate needs.

call Bill at 770-2455 or Bob at 979-2883.

Junk Bonanza 2009

The Junk Bonanza was fun. It was beautiful weather, we got their when the doors opened. It was at Cantebury Downs race track and the vendors filled a giant tent and two other large convention rooms. There was a lot of "up-cycled" items - old things used in new and creative ways and a lot of just Old Stuff. It was good to have a day away from the usual routines. Don't forget that Bill Eisenlauer and his son Bob Eisenlauer are the Realtor Bonanza! They are the best- they'll help you sell or buy real estate and make it as enjoyable as possible! Call them at Bill - 770-2455 or Bob 979-2883.